Lot 115: A pair of gilt bronze and porcelain vases, attributed to Edouard Lièvre (1826-1886), third quarter 19th century | Paire de vases et montures en bronze doré, attribué à Edouard Lièvre (1826-1886), troisième quart du XIXeme siècle

A pair of gilt bronze and porcelain vases, attributed to Edouard Lièvre (1826-1886), third quarter 19th century

the mounts simulating bamboo

Height 28½in; width 13⅓in; Haut. 72,5 cm, diam. 34 cm

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Paire de vases et montures en bronze doré, attribué à Edouard Lièvre (1826-1886), troisième quart du XIXeme siècle 

à monture imitant le bambou 

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A similar pair of vases attributed to Lièvre with the same mounts and the same size has been sold at Kohn, Paris, 10 September 2014, lot 122 (€ 106.000).Born in Nancy, Lièvre trained as a painter under the French academic painter Thomas Couture before turning his attention to decorative art design. His earliest important work datable with certainty is the grand vase persan designed for the Christofle firm in 1874, and exhibited by the latter at the Paris Expositions of 1878 and also in 1889 and 1900. Lièvre also designed for the illustrious bronzier Ferdinand Barbedienne. Among Lièvre's important clients were actress Sarah Bernhardt, courtesan Louise-Emilie Valtesse de la Bigne, and Albert Vieillard, director of Bordeaux's ceramics factory and an early Japonisme enthusiast. The suite of furniture designed for Vieillard included the Cabinet Japonais now in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris. Following Lièvre's death, his estate was sold in two auctions in 1887 and 1890. These auction were commended by the press: "It has been a long time since art lovers had the opportunity to see at auction a remarkable collection such as the work of the recently deceased master. His creations will make history..." (see Connaissance des Arts, No. 228, Un créateur inspiré by Roberto Polo, p. 8). It is believed that most of the collection was sold to George and Henri Pannier, owners of the elegant shop, l'Escalier de Cristal. The Pannier brothers produced altered versions of Lièvre's designs, including seven variants of Vieillard's Cabinet Japonais, one of which was sold to Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia and is now in the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

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Une paire de vases similaires attribués à Lièvre présentant les mêmes montures et la même taille a été vendu par l'étude Kohn à Paris le 10 septembre 2014, lot 122 (106.000 €).

Né à Nancy, Lièvre reçut d’abord une formation de peintre académique auprès de Thomas Couture. Il s’orienta ensuite vers les arts décoratifs avec la volonté de combattre le préjugé sur ce domaine estimé comme inférieur au Beaux-Arts tels que la peinture ou la sculpture. De même que Sormani, il s’entoura des meilleurs artisans tels que l’émailleur Claudius Popelin. L’une de ses premières œuvres répertoriées est certainement le grand vase persan dessiné pour Christofle en 1874 et qui figura par la suite aux Expositions Universelles de Paris de 1878, 1889 et 1900. Lièvre dessina aussi des pièces pour le bronzier Barbedienne. Parmi ses illustres clients, citons Sarah Bernhardt, Louis-Emilie Valtesse de la Bigne et Albert Vieillard, directeur d’une usine de céramique et fervent partisan du japonisme. Les meubles japonisants de Vieillard sont maintenant conservés au musée d’Orsay. A la mort de Lièvre en 1886, son stock fut vendu lors de deux ventes aux enchères en 1887 et 1890. Les propriétaires de l’Escalier de Cristal, Georges et Henri Pannier, furent d’après les rumeurs de l’époque les principaux acheteurs lors de ses deux ventes. Les deux frères réinterprétèrent les dessins de Lièvre, comme par exemple pour le cabinet japonais de Vieillard dont on connaît sept variations. L’un de ces cabinets fut vendu au Grand-Duc Vladimir de Russie et il est aujourd’hui conservé au musée de l’Hermitage.